Race track sprayer



Aug. 249, 1957 c J. BRINKMAN RACE TRACK SPRAYER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 31, 1954 1%) MN NR 1 N NEE MK fu V v-1 WM MN o @w N. m r Kw \PMN. V Q .wwl ll 96x ,1: (N. WM .NN EEK 2 a e z W. 5 J. W Z Q g .Aug. 20, 1957 c. J. BRINKMAN RACE TRACK SPRAYER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Filed Harsh 31, 1954 Aug, 20, 1957 c. J. BRINKMAN 2,893,497v

' RACE TRACK SPRAYER V Filed March 51, 1954 Sheets-Sheet 3- Z MM oa /a gy C. J. BRINKMAN RACE TRACK SPRAYER Aug. 20, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 51, 1954 N mwfx W we) :mzrm

United This invention relates to spraying apparatus and more particularly to a truck-type sprayer for spraying race tracks or like surfaces.

Heretofore in spraying race tracks preparatory to a race it has been customary to use several trucks (usually three) across the racing strip. If they overlap this results in an unduly wet streak in the overlapped area, or, if they do not, there may be a dry streak between the sprayed areas. Furthermore the weight of the trucks on the running strip causes packing, which may leave a hard area that would not be cut properly by the furrowing machine, with resultant danger of the horses hurting themselves on it.

The machine of the present invention eliminates these and other'difliculties by providing for spraying the entire racing strip from one truck, which need not traverse the running area of the track. It thus not only sprays this area much more uniformly than is possible with the old method and avoids the hazards above mentioned, but saves time, labor and equipment and lessens the necessity for the nightly cutting of a cushion on the track, which has heretofore been required. The principal object of the invention is accordingly to provide a machine of this character having, among others, the advantages specified.

A further object is the provision of a spray truck for the purpose stated, which employs a pivoted boom for carrying the spray nozzles and supply pipes which may be easily and quickly moved from inoperative to operative position and vice versa.

Another object is the provision of such an apparatus in which the boom may be positioned and locked in parallel relationship to the truck when not in use, and which, whenv unlocked, may be moved to extended or operative position by mere turning of the truck.

A still further object is the provision in such a machine of means for retracting the boom which may be operated by the driver of a truck from the dashboard of the latter.

Additional features of the invention are the provision of means for automatically locking the boom in retracted position when it is restored to such position, and of means for releasing the lock, the latter being preferably operable from the dashboard of the truck; and the provision of means for opening and closing the spray nozzles, which may be operated by an attendant from a platform or other suitable location on the truck.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in connection with the accom panying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a track sprayer in which the invention is embodied, with the boom shown in retracted position parallel to the truck;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the winch and actuating motor, which are mounted at the front of the truck;

Fig. 4 is a sectional and elevational view showing the ratchet lock for holding the boom in retracted position, the same being taken substantially on the section line 4 4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus with the boom shown in extended position in which it is disposed at right angles to the length of the truck;

rates Patent 0 a ce Fig- 6' is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the section line 6-6 in Fig. l, and showing for convenience the cone spray from one of the nozzles, although it will be understood that the spray would normally not be discharged with the boom in the retracted position of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of the truck and transverse section of the boom, being taken substantially on the line 77 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 88- in Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-9 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 1010 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a somewhat diagrammatic top plan'view of the feeder lines and pipes carried by the boom;

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the piping and feeder lines showing also the spray nozzles on the spray P P Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail view of the outer end of the spray pipe; and

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the latter.

The'apparatus comprises a truck, generally indicatedby the reference numeral 21, carrying a water tank 22 and having pivotally attached to one side'thereof a boom 23 which carries a spray pipe and other elements to be hereinafter described;

The rear end' of the boom terminates in a plate 24 which rests'upon' a turntable 25 -extendinglaterally from thetruck, and is'pivotally connected'to said turntable by means of a bolt 26, on which a compression spring 27 is mounted to provide for yieldingivertical motion of the plate 24.

The boom is supported at acentral point by meansof full-swivel caster-type wheels 28, which have a kneeaction mountingon brackets 29,.one of which is attached to each side of theboom. The wheels are carried on supports 31, which are connected by a universal joint with plates 32, which are movable relative to the fixed bracket 29,. with compression springs 33 interposed between said elements'to absorb road'shocks. It will be evident that the. Wheels will automatically turn to accommodate themselves tov the position of the boom and direction of travel of the truck.

The boom 23 is connected to a'winch'34-by means: of a cable 35 extending over a sheave 36 and connected to a midpoint onthe boomby means of a pull spring. 37 which serves to absorb shocks in the manipulation and traveling of the boom; When the boom is in its inoperative position parallel to the truck the cable is wound up on the Winch as shown in Fig. 3, and when the boom is in its operative position at right angles to the truck the cable'willbe fully paid out as shown in Fig. 5.

The winch is operated by means of a-motor 38 which, with the winch 34 and associated mechanism, is'mounted on a platform 39 at the front of the truck. The motor may be a small one, such as a 6-volt starter motor, and may be connected to the truck battery, as bymeans of a lead 41, and operated'by the driver through a starter button (not shown) on thedashboard of the truck. The motor has a driving connection with the winch through suitable gearing and a driving chain 42. While of course any suitable'variations may be made, it has: been found that a l-ton winch with a 9-1 gear ratiobetween the motor and the winch issuitable for the purposes of this apparatus.

A ratchet wheel- 43 is mounted on a shaft 44 which carries the'winch 34 and'is'bearinged in uprights 45 and 46- on the platform 39,, the ratchet wheel being rigid with the winch and thus adapted to rotate therewith. A pawl 47 is pivotally mounted on an upright 48 on the platform 39 and is arranged to overlay the ratchet wheel in the manner shown in Fig. 4.v When theratc'het. wheel is rotated in clockwise direction (viewing Fig.4) the pawl will ride over the teeth of the wheel in the well-known manner and is normally in position to prevent reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel and winch; For the purpose of disengaging the pawl from the ratchet wheel, a choke wire 49 is connected to a boss 51 on the top of the pawl and extends to an accessible position in the cab of the truck so that it may be operated by the driver to disengage the pawl from the ratchet wheel.

The pawl-and-ratchet mechanism just described thus serves to lock the boom 23 in its retracted position parallel with the truck and prevents the same from moving outwardly unless the pawl 47 has first been disengaged from the ratchet wheel 43. When so disengaged the boom will assume its extended position when the truck is turned, as when it turns onto the track. When it is' desired to restore the boom to its retracted and locked position, the motor 38 will'be energized by pressing the control button on the dash, thus turning the winch in direction to wind up the cable 35. When in the fully retracted position the boom will engage a stop member 51 carried on a bracket 52 mounted on the platform 39 at the front of the truck (as shown best in Fig. 7). Y

Mounted inside the boom, which constitutes a rectangular enclosure open at the bottom, is a spray pipe 53, which carries a series of spray nozzles 54. Said pipe is supported by U-bolts 55, securing the same to crosswise angle irons 56 arranged at intervals in the lower part of the boom and supported by angle irons 57 welded or otherwise secured to side walls 58 of the boom structure.

Water is fed to the spray line from the tank 22 through a pipe 59 extending laterally from the tank 22 (see Figs. 2, and 11). Said pipe 59 is connected by an elbow 61 and ball joint 62 with a feeder line comprising a Y member 63 and hoses 64 and 65 extending from the Y member forwardly within the boom and connected, respectively, with an equalizer pipe 66 by means of short, angularly-disposed connecting pipes 67 and 68, said equalizer pipe being connected in turn with the spray pipe 53 by means of three vertical pipes 69 containing quick-opening valves 71 adapted to be opened and closed by means of an actuating rod 72 and a handle 73 operable by an attendant from a platform 74 on the side of the truck. Said handle 73 is pivotally mounted at 74 within the boom and its lower end is connected by means of a slotted block 75 and nuts 76 with said rod 72, whereby pivotal action of the handle will shift said rod lengthwise of the boom. I

The rod 72 is supported from the interior of the boom by a supporting structure 70 and is connected with the valves 69 by means of bifurcated levers 77 having their bifurcated portions straddling the rod 72 and having a yielding connection therewith through springs 78 extending between collars 79 and 81, the latter of which are pinned to said rod 72. It will therefore be evident that when said handle 73 is moved in one direction the valves will be opened and when moved in the other direction they will be closed so as to control the sprinkling as desired.

The sprayer pipe 53 extends forwardly of the enclosed part of the boom and its outer end has an offset section 82, which is connected with the main sprayer pipe 53 by means of elbows 83 and 84 and a short vertical pipe 85. Said pipe section 82 has a plurality of nipples 86 depending therefrom, said nipples having nozzles 87 at the lower ends thereof. The pipe 82 has a reduced portion 88 at the outer end thereof connecting with a short cross-pipe 89, having at each end thereof two nipples 91 extending downwardly in angular direction and terminating in nozzles 92. A pear-shaped guard 93 is provided at the end of the pipe structure just described. Extending the spray pipe beyond the boom in this fashion gives the driver a vision, of the end of the pipe and enables him to tell whether the spray is functioning properly.

As shown in Fig. 6, the spraying nozzles each provide a solid cone spray so that the track is thoroughly and uniformly sprayed and, as hereinabove pointed out, this is accomplished by one traversing of the track, with the truck arranged at the side of the racing strip.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various changes in the construction set forth may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Iclaim:

'1. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a wheel-supported boom having a'free pivotal connection to the side of said truck and movable horizontally between a retracted inoperative position adjacent and parallel to the truck, in which position it extends from its pivot in the direction of travel of the truck, and an extended operative position at right angles thereto by turning of the truck, spraying devices carried by said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying a ground area beneath said boom when the latter is in its extended position, means for operating said spraying devices to start or stop the spraying operation; mechanism for positively moving said boom to its retracted position, and means for releasably locking the same in such position.

2. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a wheel-supported boom having a free pivotal connection to the side of said truck and movable horizontally between a retracted inoperative position adjacent and parallel to the truck, in which position it extends from its pivot in the direction of travel of the truck, and an extended operative position at right angles thereto by turning of the truck, spraying devices carried by said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying a ground area beneath said boom when the latter is in its extended position, means for'operating said spraying devices to start or stop the spraying operation, mechanism, including a motor-operated winch, for positively moving said boom to its retracted position, and means for releasably locking the same in such position.

3. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a wheel-supported boom having a free pivotal connection to the side of said truck and movable horizontally between a retracted inoperative position'adjacent and parallel to the truck, in which position it extends from its pivot in the direction of travel of the truck, and an extended operative position at right angles thereto by turning of the truck, spraying devices carriedby said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying a ground area beneath said boom when the latter is in its extended position, means for operating said spraying devices to start or stop the spraying operation, mechanism, including a motor-operated winch controllable from the cab of the truck, for positively moving the boom to its retracted position, and means for re leasably locking the same in such position.

4. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a wheel-supported boom having a free pivotalconnection to the side of said truck and movable horizontally between a retracted inoperative position adjacent and parallel to the truck, in which position it extends from its pivot in the direction of travel of the truck, and an extended operative position at right angles thereto by turning of the truck, spraying devices carried by said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying a ground area beneath said boom when the latter is in its extended position, means for operating said spraying devicesto start or stop the spraying operation, mechanism, including a motor-operated winch controllable from the cab of the truck, for positively moving the boom to its retracted position, and a pawl-and-ratchet device arranged to normally prevent pay-out rotation of said winch.

5. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a wheel-supported boom having a free pivotal connection to the side of said truck and movable horizontally between a retracted inoperative position adjacent and parallel to the truck, in which position it extends from its pivot in the direction of travel of the truck, and an extended operative position at right angles thereto by turning of the truck, spraying devices carried by said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying a ground area beneath said boom when the latter is in its extended position, means for operating said spraying devices to start or stop the spraying operation, mechanism, including a motor-operated winch controllable from the cab of the truck, for positively moving the boom to its retracted position, and a pawl-and-ratchet device arranged to normally prevent pay-out rotation of said winch, said device including means operable from the cab of the truck for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet to permit such pay-out rotation of the winch.

6. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a boom having a free pivotal connection to the side of said truck and movable horizontally between a retracted inoperative position adjacent and parallel to the truck in which position it extends from its pivot in the direction of travel of the truck, and an extended operative position at right angles thereto by turning of the truck, a swivel-wheel support for the boom at a point remote from the pivot thereof, power means operable from the cab of the truck for moving said boom from its operative extended position to its inoperative retracted position parallel to the truck, means for normally preventing reverse movement of the boom, means operable from the cab of the truck for releasing said last-mentioned means and thereby permitting such reverse movement of the boom, spraying devices carried by said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying a ground area beneath said boom when the latter is in its extended position, and means for operating said spraying devices to start or stop the spraying operation.

7. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a boom having a free pivotal connection to the side of said truck and movable horizontally between a retracted inoperative position adjacent and parallel to the truck, in which position it extends from its pivot in the direction of travel of the truck, and an extended operative position at right angles thereto by turning of the truck, a swivel-type, knee action wheel on said boom for supporting the same at a point remote from the pivot thereof, a shock-absorbing mounting for said wheel, power means operable from the cab of the truck for moving said boom from its operative extended position to its inoperative retracted position parallel to the truck, means for normally preventing reverse movement of the boom, means operable from the cab of the truck for releasing said last-mentioned means and thereby permitting such reverse movement of the boom, spraying devices carried by said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying a ground area beneath said boom when the latter is in its extended position, and means for operating said spraying devices to start or stop the spraying operation.

8. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a boom pivotally connected to the side of said truck and movable horizontally between a retracted inoperative pt rition adjacent and parallel to the truck and an extended operative position at right angles thereto, spraying d ces carried by said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying a ground area beneath said boom when the latter is in its extended position, said devices including an outlet pipe extending from said tank, distributing conduits, a ball-joint connection between said outlet pipe and conduits, and a spray pipe supplied from said distributing conduits at a plurality of spaced points and equipped with a series of spraying nozzles, and means for operating said spraying devices to start or stop the spraying operation.

9. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a wheelsupported boom having a free pivotal connection to the side of said truck and movable horizontally between a retracted inoperative position adjacent and parallel to the truck, in which position it extends from its pivot in the direction of travel of the truck, and an extended operative position at right angles thereto by turning of the truck, spraying devices carried by said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying a ground area beneath said boom when the latter is in its extended position, said devices including an outlet pipe extending from said tank, a spray pipe equipped with a series of spraying nozzles, means, including a quick-opening valve, for controlling the supply of water from said outlet pipe to said spray pipe and for starting and stopping the spraying operation.

10. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a wheel-supported boom having a free pivotal connection to the side of said truck and movable horizontally between a retracted inoperative position adjacent and parallel to the truck, in which position it extends from its pivot in the direction of travel of the truck, and an extended operative position at right angles thereto by turning of the truck, spraying devices carried by said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying a ground area beneath said boom when the latter is in its extended position, said devices including an outlet pipe extending from said tank, a spray pipe equipped with a series of spraying nozzles, means, including a quick-opening valve and an operating handle therefor operable by an attendant from a station on the truck, for controlling the supply of water from said outlet pipe to said spray pipe and for starting and stopping the spraying operation.

11. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a boom pivotally connected to the side of said truck and movable between a retracted inoperative position adjacent and parallel to the truck and an extended operative position at right angles thereto, spraying devices carried by said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying a ground area beneath said boom when the latter is in its extended position, said devices including an outlet pipe extending from said tank, a spray pipe equipped with a plurality of spraying nozzles, an equalizing pipe interposed between said outlet pipe and said spray pipe, means for supplying water from said outlet pipe to said equalizing pipe at a plurality of points, a conduit between said equalizing pipe and said spray pipe, a valve in said conduit and means for operating said valve to start or stop the spraying operation.

12. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a boom pivotally connected to the side of said truck and movable between a retracted inoperative position adjacent and parallel to the truck and an extended operative position at right angles thereto, spraying devices carried by said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying a ground area beneath said boom when the latter is in its extended position, said devices including an outlet pipe extending from said tank, a spray pipe equipped with a plurality of spraying nozzles, an equalizing pipe interposed between said outlet pipe and said spray pipe, means for supplying water from said outlet pipe to said equilizing pipe at a plurality of points, a plurality of conduits between said equalizing pipe and said spray pipe, a valve in each of said conduits, and means for simultaneously operating said valves to start or stop the spraying operation.

13. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a boom pivotally connected to the side of said truck and movable between a retracted inoperative posioperative position at right angles thereto, spraying devices carried by said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying a ground area beneath said boom when the latter is in its extended position, said devices including an outlet pipe extending from said tank, a spray pipe equipped with a plurality of spraying nozzles, an equalizing pipe interposed between said out-' let pipe and said spray pipe, means for supplying water from said outlet pipe to said equalizing pipe at a plurality of points, a plurality of conduits between said equalizing pipe and said spray pipe, a valve in each of said conduits, and means for simultaneously operating said valves to start or stop the spraying operation, said last-mentioned means comprising a handle operable by an attendant from a station on the truck.

14. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a boom pivotally connected to the side of said truck and movable between a retracted inoperative position adjacent and parallel to the truck and an extended operative position at right angles thereto, spraying devices carried by said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying a ground area beneath said boom when the latter is in its extended position, and means for operating said spraying devices to start or stop the spraying operation, said spraying devices, including a spray pipe equipped with a series of spraying nozzles and extending beyond said boom, said extended end of said pipe and the spray therefrom being visible to the driver in the cab of the truck, the boom being formed to provide an enclosure in which the remainder of said spray pipe is not visible to the driver.

15. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a boom pivotally connected to the side of said truck and movable between a retracted inoperative position adjacent and parallel to the truck and an extended operative position at right angles thereto, spraying devices carried by said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying a ground area beneath said boom when the latter is in its extended position, and means for operating said spraying devices to start or stop the spraying operation, said spraying devices, including a spray pipe equipped with a series of spraying nozzles and extending beyond said boom, said extended end of said pipe and the spray therefrom being visible to the driver in the cab of the truck, the boom being formed to provide an enclosure in which the remainder of said spray pipe is not visible to the driver, and a guard'for said extended end of said spray pipe and the nozzles carried thereby.

16. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a turntable on one side of said truck, a wheelsupported boom having a plate on the inner end thereof mounted for free rotation on said turntable, said boom being movable horizontally to a retracted inoperative position adjacent and parallel to the truck, in which position it extends from its pivot in the direction of travel of the truck, from an extended operative position at right angles thereto and being disposed in operative position in relation to the truck by turning of the latter away therefrom, power means operable from the cab of the truck for moving said boom from its operative extended position to its inoperative retracted position parallel to the truck, means for normally preventing reverse movement of the boom, means operable from the cab of the truck for releasing said last-mentioned means and thereby permitting such reverse movement of the boom, spra ing devices carried by said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying a ground area beneath said boom when the latter is in its extended position, and means for operating said spraying devices to start or stop the-spraying operation.

17. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a turntable on one side of said turck, a boom having a plate on the inner end thereof rotatably mounted on said turntable, a spring-bolt connection between said plate and turntable, said boom being movable horizontally to a retracted inoperative position adjacent and parallel to the truck from an extended operative position at right angles thereto which it assumes upon turning of the truck preparatory to a spraying operation,

spraying devices carried by said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying'a ground area beneath said boom when the latter is in its extended position, and means for operating said spraying devices to start or stop the spraying operation.

18. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a horizontally disposed boom pivotally connected to the side of said truck and having an inoperative position in which it is parallel to, and extends from its pivot in the direction of travel of the truck in close proximity thereto and an operative position in which it extends laterally from the truck, a wheel support for said boom, power means operable from the cab of the truck for moving the boom from said operative position to said inoperative position, means for normally preventing reverse movement of the boom and releasably locking it in its inoperative position, means operable from the cab of the truck for releasing said locking means, a pivotal mounting for one end of the boom comprising a support onthe truck and a member by which said end of the boom is freely pivoted on said support, whereby when the boom is released and the truck is turned in direction away therefrom the pivotal action between the truck and the wheel-supported boom will result in the latter being disposed in said laterally extended operative position, spraying devices carried by said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying a ground area beneath said boomwhen the latter is in its extended position, and means for operating said spraying devices to start or stop the spraying operation.

19. Spraying apparatus, comprising: a truck, a tank thereon, a horizontally disposed boom pivotally connected to the side of said truck and having an inoperative position in which it is parallel to, and extends from its pivot in the direction of travel of, the truck in close proximity thereto and an operative position in which it extends laterally from the truck, a wheel support for said boom, power means operable from the cab of the truck for moving the boom from said operative position to said inoperative position, means for normally preventing reverse movement of the boom and releasably looking it in its inoperative position, means operable from the cab of the truck for releasing said locking means, a pivotal mounting for one end of the boom comprising a support on the truck and a member by which said end of the boom is freely pivoted on said support, whereby when the boom is released and the truck is turned in direction away therefrom the pivotal action between the truck and the wheel-supported boom will result in the latter being disposed in said laterally extended operative position, spraying devices carried by said boom and communicably connected with said tank for spraying a ground area beneath said boom when the latter is in its extended position, and means operable from a station on the truck for operating said spraying devices to start or stop the spraying operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 11,736 Twining Apr. 25, 1899 1,071,486 Nalker Aug. 26, 1913 2,221,433 Pitner Nov. 12, 1940 2,305,913 Troyer Dec. 22, 1942 2,575,521 Ireland Nov. 20, 1951 2,641,505 Valois June 9, 1953 2,645,523 Long July 14, 1953 

